THESE images capture a fraudster competing in a golf tournament when he was pretending to be disabled to swindle £30,000 in benefits.

Over six years, former Army man Eric Roper, 64, claimed he could barely walk, required help with his personal care and suffered from breathlessness and dizziness to received disability benefits.

But in reality, the married dad-of-four was exaggerating his condition to receive the higher rate of mobility allowance and disability benefits.

Roper’s scam came to light last year when officials from the department of work and pensions put him under secret surveillance. Between June and September, they filmed Roper shopping, walking and playing golf.

In some of the footage, Roper was captured competing in the King’s Regiment annual golf day out in Formby. He came third in the competition in 2009.

Judge David Swift said: “The department undertook some surveillance and as a result of that you were recorded walking around shops, golfing and engaging in activities without any obvious problems.”

But the judge spared Roper, of Queens Drive, Mossley Hill, prison after hearing about his positive good character and the deterioration in his health since being arrested.

Rebecca Blain, defending, told how Roper was employed by the army between 1964 and 1973 before working in an administrative role until 2000.

She said until then he had continued in the Territorial Army and was a warrant officer when he was eventually discharged.

Miss Blain said he also continued to be the secretary for the King’s Regiment.

She said Roper’s health problems began in 2000 when he suffered a heart attack and he initially claimed disability benefits legitimately.

He applied on the basis he had undergone heart bypass surgery, suffered from unstable angina, arthritis in his shoulder and poor circulation in his legs.

Roper also said he was unable to walk more than 20 yards without severe discomfort and needed help every day.

But Martine Snowdon, prosecuting, said Roper’s condition significantly improved and he was soon carrying out normal activities. From 2002, he was also a member of the golf club and would regularly play.

Yet on three occasions, he completed self-assessment forms exaggerating his condition.

During the scam, he defrauded a total of £30,030 between April 2004 and June 2010.

Roper made a “full and frank” admission after being arrested and later admitted three offences of making false representations to obtain benefits.

Judge Swift suspended a four-month sentence for 18 months and subjected him to a three-month curfew between 8pm and 8am.

He told Roper, who has been married for 40 years and has four grown-up children: “You have a positive record of service to the community.”

Roper had handed forward a handful of references, including one from a colonel.

Miss Blain also told how Roper had liquidated his life savings and sold his car in a bid to pay back the cash he had swindled.